EP1369995B1 - Method and system for arranging and sorting of channels - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a method and a system for sorting or sorting broadcast information and / or content-transportable receivable channels, in particular broadcast channels, according to at least one order or sorting principle.

State of the art

Receiving devices, in particular television sets or radios, nowadays enable the storage of received channels on so-called program slots. Depending on the receiving device, a few memory locations are available for this purpose up to hundreds of different memory locations. Assigning or assigning the receive channels to the numbered ones Program slots are performed either manually by the user of the receiving device or automatically by a special function of the receiving device, hereinafter referred to as automatic channel storage.

The manual sorting by the user of the receiving device is cumbersome and time consuming for the user, but usually provides the user with the advantage that the receiving channels are arranged in a known and easily accessible order for the user. The user's most used receive channels are typically stored in the most accessible program slots. Prerequisite for this programming is a list of the receiving channels as well as exact knowledge of the user about the programming of the program slots.

On the other hand, the advantage of automatic channel storage on the one hand in a time savings in the programming, on the other hand that the receiving device can also find new, previously unknown to the user receiving channels and automatically store on the program slots. The stored receive channels are typically filtered by receive characteristics in broadcast receivers so as not to unnecessarily block the limited number of program slots available for storage by poorly receivable transmitters. The reception channels are always distributed to the program slots in an unpredictable manner after automatic channel storage.

So that now the frequencies most frequently used by the user lie on the easily accessible program places, the user is almost always forced to a manual reassignment. In the dawning era of digital broadcasting with hundreds of channels on offer, manual sorting becomes a work that overburdens the patience and time of the user.

From the US Pat. No. 6,182,287 For example, there is known a method for ordering or sorting content transporting channels in a multimedia device in which preferred channels are stored in an automatically generated favorites list, wherein the favorites list may include entries of the most used channels. This facilitates access to the user-preferred channels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: Problem, Solution, Advantages

Based on the disadvantages and inadequacies set out above and in appreciation of the outlined prior art, the present invention has the object, a method of the type mentioned and a system of the type mentioned so that even with a variety of receivable channels a simple , intuitive and meaningful principle for organizing or sorting these channels is met.

This object is achieved according to the teaching of the present invention by a method having the features mentioned in claim 1 and by a system having the features mentioned in claim 6. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the present invention are characterized in the respective subclaims.

Thus, the gist of the present invention is seen in channel sorting by duration of use; in other words, this means that the channels are sorted or sorted according to the duration and / or intensity of the utilization or utilization of the information and / or contents transported by the respective channel and then replaced if the measured useful life falls short of a predetermined threshold value.

According to a development of the present method as well as of the present system, an automatic distribution of the user channels most and / or the most intensively used reception channels to the most easily and / or best accessible program locations takes place in this context.

This initially gives the advantage that the program slots stored stations can be easily updated to new stations without the user familiar order of "its" main receiving channels messed up.

Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that the user can easily and repeatedly use previously unknown receiving channels, because these receiving channels can be stored in a simple manner on the program slots, without the user having to know the list of available receiving channels.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, transmitters used over a long period of time can be automatically moved to the more easily accessible program slots, so that the user is a quick hopping back and forth between his favorite or "favorite" channels possible. In this context, the ongoing updating according to the present method has the further advantage that, despite this ongoing updating of the channel offering, the user does not lose track of his or her favorite channels or "favorite" channels.

Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous both in relation to the present method and with respect to the present system that the principle of channel sorting on the basis of the invention is used independently of already known ordering / sorting methods as described in the prior art without changing their way of working.

Accordingly, the present invention finally relates to a receiver, in particular a radio receiver, operating according to a method as set forth above and / or comprising at least one system as set forth above.

A sorting device according to duration of use can therefore according to the invention in all receivers, in which a received channel can be assigned to one of several program slots are used; these are in particular broadcast receivers for digital audio, digital video, television, radio and / or teletext programs and other digital media receivers, such as the Internet or W [ireless] A [pplication] P [rotocol].

The present invention works regardless of the concrete number of channels and regardless of the concrete number of program slots; Furthermore, the present invention operates independently of the selection or the manual programming of a specific program slot and assigned to this program slot specific receiving channel.

Brief description of the drawings

As already discussed above, there are various possibilities for embodying and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, reference is made on the one hand to the claims subordinate to claims 1 and 7, on the other hand further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the embodiment illustrated by Figure 1 embodiment.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Prinzipdarstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels für ein System auf das die vorliegende Erfindung angewendet werden kann, das dann gemäß dem Verfahren gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung funktioniert.

It shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a system to which the present invention can be applied, which then operates according to the method according to the present invention.

Best way to carry out the invention

FIG. 1 outlines the functional principle of a system 100 for sorting two hundred radiated information or content-transportable broadcast channels K1, K2, K3, K4, K5,..., K200 according to a sorting or sorting principle. The terminal combination of the system 100 can be designed as follows:

In a computer central processing unit 20 with memory unit 10, a radio receiver (TV) measures the time during which each transmitter frequency selected on the radio receiver is used by the user and stores this in a list 12 (= so-called channel list) of the transmitter frequencies used ; This channel list 12 can be automatically sorted according to the duration of use by computer:

• des ersten Kanals K1 genau 15.234 Sekunden,
• des zweiten Kanals K2 genau 10.221 Sekunden,
• des dritten Kanals K3 genau 8.403 Sekunden,
• des vierten Kanals K4 genau 6.781 Sekunden,
• des fünften Kanals K5 genau 390 Sekunden,
• ... und des zweihundertsten Kanals K200 genau fünf Sekunden

in Anspruch genommen, das heißt genutzt.Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the user of the radio receiving device has hitherto used the respective information and respective contents

• of the first channel K1 exactly 15.234 seconds,
• of the second channel K2 exactly 10.221 seconds,
• of the third channel K3 exactly 8.403 seconds,
• of the fourth channel K4 exactly 6.781 seconds,
• of the fifth channel K5 exactly 390 seconds,
• ... and the two hundredth channel K200 exactly five seconds

used, that is used.

In a second list, also kept in the memory unit 10, namely in the so-called program place list 14, there are two hundred program locations P1, P2, P3, P4, P5,..., P200 with the respective ones Selection of required key combinations T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, ..., T2 + T0 + T0 filed, sorted by the quality of accessibility of the keyboard shortcuts T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, ..., T2 + T0 + T0 by the user.

The individual transmission frequencies (= channel K1, K2, K3, K4, K5,..., K200) from channel list 12 are assigned to a program location P1, P2, P3, P4, P5,..., P200 from program list 14 according to the invention or assigned. In this case, according to the invention, the channels K1, K2, K3, K4, K5 that are most frequently used or used most frequently and allocated are assigned to the best and most easily accessible program locations P1, P2, P3, P4, P5; These program locations P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 can be selected and accessed in a simple and fast manner by means of the keys T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 provided on a remote control.

This assignment or assignment can change with each new sorting of the channel list 12 and a concomitant change in the numbering or sequence of the channels K1, K2, K3, K4, K5,..., K200.

The order or sorting can be computer-aided automatically (-> computer central unit 20, which is connected via a connecting line 230 with a radio receiving unit 30 for receiving the transmitter frequencies) or manually. An automatically set or user settable threshold decides below which (in seconds) measured usage time unused transmitter frequencies can be automatically replaced by offered but not currently stored in memory unit 10 transmitter frequencies.

Finally, it should be noted that the term "broadcasting" in the context of the present invention is not limited to that often understood, via an amplitude modulated (= AM) or frequency modulated (= FM) broadcasting frequency transmitted radio, often in German-speaking countries also colloquially referred to as "radio" is limited; Rather, "broadcasting" here means a transmission of information from an information provider to a large number of recipients.

As an example, in addition to the known AM or FM Hörrundfunk example known under the abbreviation DAB (= Digital Audio Broadcasting) terrestrial digital audio broadcasting, the well-known under the abbreviation DSR (Digital Satellite Radio) digital satellite-based radio and satellite TV, the Cable TV and terrestrial television called.

Further, broadcasting in the context of the present invention is not limited to wireless radio transmission by means of electromagnetic waves, but also extends to both wireless transmission and wired transmission, such as via fiber optic lines or copper lines.

Claims (9)

1. Method for arranging or sorting receivable channels (K), transporting radiated information and/or contents, particularly broadcast channels, in accordance with at least one principle of arranging or sorting,
   wherein the channels (K) are arranged or sorted in a channel list (12) in accordance with the duration and/or intensity of the utilization or use of the information and/or contents transported by the respective channel (K), characterized in that the channels (K) in the channel list (12), the measured duration and/or intensity of the utilization or use of which is below a threshold value which is automatically established or can be set by the user, are automatically replaced, in particular, by other channels (K).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the arranged or sorted channels (K) are allocated or assigned to programme spaces (P), the numbering and/or sequence of which corresponds to the principle of arranging or sorting.
3. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the channels (K) utilized or used most frequently or most are allocated or assigned to the programme spaces (P) which can be reached best and/or most easily.
4. Method according to at least one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized
   in that the channels (K) are arranged or sorted in at least one channel list (12),
   in that the entries in the channel list (12) are allocated or assigned to the entries of at least one list of programme spaces (14) and
   in that the numbering and/or sequence of the entries in the list of programme spaces (14) is defined by the principle of arranging or sorting for the entries in the channel list (12).
5. Method according to at least one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that in each case at least one key (T), particularly of at least one operating unit, is allocated or assigned to the individual programme spaces (P).
6. System (100) for arranging or sorting receivable channels (K) transporting radiated information and/or contents, particularly broadcast channels, in accordance with at least one principle of arranging or sorting in a channel list (12),
   wherein the principle of arranging or sorting is given by the duration and/or intensity of the utilization or use of the information and/or contents transported by the respective channel (K), characterized in that an, in particular, automatic replacement of such channels (K) in the channel list (12) by other channels (K) is provided, the measured duration and/or intensity of utilization or use of which is below a threshold value which is automatically established or can be set by the user.
7. System according to Claim 6, characterized
   in that at least one channel list (12) is provided for the channels (K),
   in that the channels (K) in the channel list (12) can be allocated or assigned to programme spaces (P) in at least one list of programme spaces (14), and
   in that the numbering and/or sequence of the programme spaces (P) in the list of programme spaces (14) is defined by the principle of arranging or sorting for the channels (K) in the channel list (12).
8. System according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized by at least one memory unit (10) for storing the channels (K) and the programme spaces (P),
   at least one central processing unit (20), particularly a computer central processing unit, which is connected (120) to the memory unit (10), and
   at least one receiving unit (30), particularly a broadcast receiving unit, which is connected (230) to the central processing unit (20).
9. Receiving device, particularly a broadcast receiving device, operating in accordance with a method according to at least one of Claims 1 to 5 and/or having at least one system (100) according to at least one of Claims 6 to 8.

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